Sir Bobby's home city pays its tribute
Dec 9 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal
SIR Bobby Robson achieved the "triple crown" when he was awarded the freedom of Durham City yesterday.
Having already been granted the freedom of Newcastle three years ago, and of Ipswich earlier this year, it was the turn of his home city to bestow the honour upon him at Durham’s historic Town Hall.
To receive the honour Sir Bobby, accompanied by his wife Lady Elsie, had to declare: “I Sir Bobby Robson, do declare, that I will faith and true allegiance bear to our sovereign lady the Queen that now is, her heirs and successors.
“I will faith and true bear to the Right Reverend Father in God Thomas by divine providence Lord Bishop of Durham and his lawful successors.
“I will be obedient and always aiding and assisting to the Mayor of the City of Durham, his offices and ministers, for the time being in all lawful things for the good and benefit of the said city to the utmost of my power.”
Councillors Amanda Hapgood, Jeff Lodge, David Bell and Arnie Simpson spoke in favour of the motion to grant Sir Bobby the freedom of the city at the specially convened council meeting.
Coun Hapgood told him: “As a Newcastle United season ticket holder, I wish you were still in charge.”
Sir Bobby, who won 20 England caps as a player, went onto manage Ipswich Town, England, and Newcastle United, as well as some of Europe’s leading teams.
He was born in Sacriston, near Durham, and brought up in the nearby village of Langley Park.
Durham’s Mayor, Grenville Holland, paid tribute to Sir Bobby’s work in establishing the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation cancer charity, describing him as “an ambassador for the North East and for football, and an extraordinary fundraiser for charity”.
The mayor said: “I thank you for all you have done to make our world a better place to live in, you have earned this special accolade.” After the meeting, Sir Bobby was escorted from the Town Hall by the 12 ceremonial Bodyguards of Durham.
Among those present at the ceremony was former Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest full back Frank Clark, in his capacity as vice chairman of the League Managers Association.
Mr Clark, who grew up in High Spen, near Rowlands Gill, said: “Sir Bobby really is a special person, an amazing man. He fully deserves this honour.
“Now he can graze his sheep in Newcastle, Ipswich and Durham, he has the triple crown!”
In March this year the footballing knight, who is fighting cancer for the fifth time, launched the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation when he announced he was dedicating a year to raising money to help other North East people beat cancer. Since then, more than £1m has been raised, with cash pouring in, not only from the region, but also from Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands, where Sir Bobby also managed leading football clubs and is remembered fondly.
The first £500,000 was to kit out a new centre in Newcastle, which will focus on the early detection and treatment of cancer and the clinical trials of new drugs that may eventually beat it.
Work will initially be at the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the Freeman Hospital and will treat patients from across the region.
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